Motaleate Shahri

Analysis of Justice Distribution of Urban Services and the their Spatial Distribution Pattern in Hamadan Ciy

h d; f r; b a

Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, Pages 5-18

Abstract

The concept of justice is dependent on time and place and so far a definition for it has not been provided. Nevertheless, justice in urban planning is related with fair distribution of resources and public services in a city. Although the demand for distributive justice in urban planning is necessary, ... Read More The concept of justice is dependent on time and place and so far a definition for it has not been provided. Nevertheless, justice in urban planning is related with fair distribution of resources and public services in a city. Although the demand for distributive justice in urban planning is necessary, it is not sufficient on its own because it neglects fundamental and structural questions such as the distribution of power in the city. No doubt, executing any plans and designs has good impacts on some citizens and bad impacts on citizens with less social and economic power. From this viewpoint, urban development plans and designs are key tools for reducing economic-social inequity in cities. Since urban planning is related to allocation and distribution of scarce resources among various places in the city, it is important for urban planning to rely on criterion such as justice. Otherwise, it can lead to more enjoyment of some places compared to others in a city. The contact point of urban planning and social justice is distributive justice. Distributive justice is based on the distribution of municipal services in the city according to the two criteria of “accessibility” and “spatial distribution”. In recent decades, one of the most important outputs of rapid urbanization and physical development of cities in Iran has been a disintegration in the distribution system of civil service centers. It has been the basis for unequal enjoyment of the service system by residents in cities. Thus, the most important duty of urban planners and managers is to achieve just distribution of public services for different groups in urban society and to decrease inequality in accessibility to public services such as health and educational services, and green spaces. Unjust distribution of public services will lead to social crises and spatial complex problems in cities. By considering the importance of this issue, the key aim of this study is to evaluate the level of just distribution of municipal services in Hamadan city. It seems that the distribution of municipal services in Hamadan city is unjust. The present study is a developmental study using descriptive analysis methodology. To measure residents’ access to municipal services, network analysis method was employed. To measure the spatial distribution of municipal services, the Gary Moran coefficients were used. The findings of this study show that resident access to educational, sport, health, cultural and religious and green space services in Hamadan city is not acceptable. Moreover, spatial distribution of municipal services in Hamadan city has a cluster pattern. The cluster pattern in spatial distribution of municipal services indicates that some areas have more services than others in the city. The study results show that distribution of municipal services in Hamadan city is unjust. This injustice has various consequences and it can be a barrier to achieving sustainable development. In addition, it can lead to civil protests. It is recommended that city managers who eliminate and decrease present injustices in the distribution of municipal services should be given top priority.

Urban Planning

Planners’ Position in the Iranian Urban Planning Process

m s; j t; m ch

Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, Pages 19-32

Abstract

Despite the fundamental economic, social, political and technological transformations, urban planning process has not undergone any sensible change since 1968 to the present time and the role and position of planners and its prominent actor, i.e. the government, have remained invariant. A major part ... Read More Despite the fundamental economic, social, political and technological transformations, urban planning process has not undergone any sensible change since 1968 to the present time and the role and position of planners and its prominent actor, i.e. the government, have remained invariant. A major part of this change has resulted from the viewpoint held by planners who see the planning process as a technical, physical and intellectual process. In the present study, using concepts such as “knowledge”, “reality”, “rationality”, “value”, and “policy” an attempt has been made to criticize the traditional planning process, which is the dominant process in Iran. This study, by introducing other alternatives of scientific knowledge and instrumental rationality and exhibiting some gaps in the robust framework of the reality emphasized in traditional planning, addresses the role of values, experience, and mentality of planners as well as policy and policy implementation employed by social activists in the planning process. Furthermore, it reviews the unbiased and value-free perceptions of traditional values. For this purpose, through interviewing the managing directors of the country’s largest consulting engineering companies, which are in charge of preparing designs in Iran, we have investigated their various mentalities, perceptions, and experiences about the forces and approaches influencing the planning process. The reason why we have chosen company directors instead of project managers or design experts is that directors are more involved in the interactions with different actors in the planning process. After conducting the interviews with 15 managing directors, the contents of the interviews were scripted and the results were applied to review the framework of traditional planning process. Since government, in contrast to society, holds all the powers and fulfills all the duties and is involved in almost all urban planning processes, by drawing five abstract states of planners’ positions (governmental planners, government-serving planners, independent planners, public-serving planners, and public planners) we have assumed that there is a distance between the two main sides of society (government and community) where planners find an angled position with these two elements of society. By defining this position, planners in the planning process determine their relations with each of the primary forces where the smaller the angle, the closer the relationships.

Urban Planning

Assessing of the relationship between the objective and subjective indicators of quality of life in the perspective of quality and physical safety in historical texture of URMIA

r h; a m; F M

Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, Pages 33-46

Abstract

In recent decades the issues of urban quality of life and the promotion of citizens’ satisfaction in regards to their living environment have attracted the attention of many researchers and international organizations as high as the United Nation which releases an annual report entitled “Human ... Read More In recent decades the issues of urban quality of life and the promotion of citizens’ satisfaction in regards to their living environment have attracted the attention of many researchers and international organizations as high as the United Nation which releases an annual report entitled “Human Report”. This report illustrates the differences between cities in terms of level of quality of life. Quality of life is measured by various factors and one of the most important measures of quality of life is physical security which if paid attention to reduces problems such as the devastating effects of natural disasters, lack of sense of relief in urban spaces and so forth. The aim of this study is to assess the quality of life based on standards of quality of life and quality of physical security in settlements. The standards of quality of life and physical security in both objective and subjective aspects in the ancient city of Urmia was evaluated and investigated as a case study. The method used in this paper is survey-analysis. The investigation was carried out using questionnaires, AHP (AHP) model and Fuzzy Techniques, linear regression and Pearson correlation analysis of quantitative and qualitative data. By using library resources and research undertaken on the subject, this research determined indicators of physical quality and security including access to housing facilities, infrastructure and home ownership conditions. In order to achieve the goal of study, the hypothesis “it seems that improvement in the quality of life and physical security in the old city of Urmia can result in the satisfaction of its citizens” was introduced. To analyze the data and verify the hypothesis, the indicator index was first calculated. In order to analyze the objective data, off-scaling phase was used and the degree of membership of variable indicators studied for each housing unit was obtained. Finally, by combining the coefficients of the variables and the degree of membership variables, objective life quality final score (a measure of security and physical quality) per dwelling unit was attained. In the next section, subjective survey data was examined. By combining the coefficients and parameters of the obtained scores of Likert scale questionnaire, subjective quality of life in the final score was calculated for each residential unit. To assess the relationship between physical quality and physical security with mental quality of life, the standards of security and physical quality as independent parameters was introduced. The combination of responses from citizens were introduced as dependent variables. By testing the hypothesis and obtaining a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.984 and coefficient of determination of 0.969 showed that there is a very strong correlation between urban life quality index and physical security in the old city of Urmia. The results show that satisfaction in access to services statistically has a significant positive effect on subjective quality of life and resident satisfaction from the variables of quality of life and physical security leads to greater increase in satisfaction of the subjective quality of life. These findings remind urban planners that physical parameters have a great role in increasing satisfaction of quality of life of citizens.

Urban Planning

Just City planning and its position within social justice

H S; F N

Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, Pages 47-58

Abstract

It is not new to think about justice and the ways one can make cities more just. In all schools of thought, from left to right, planners and politicians have considered themselves the champions of justice. However, up to the 1980s, it was the socialists who considered justice as their central ... Read More It is not new to think about justice and the ways one can make cities more just. In all schools of thought, from left to right, planners and politicians have considered themselves the champions of justice. However, up to the 1980s, it was the socialists who considered justice as their central focus and not the liberals. Since the beginning of the 21st Century, several non-socialist philosophers have begun to talk about justice within the framework of liberal planning. Thus, it can be argued that one new school of thought has come to forth as the Just City approach. Justice, as the fundamental value of action in planning, moves some theorists such as Susan Fainstein to write on this subject. Since Just City is not one “theory”, we first attempt to identify the most influential theories within “Just City” spectrum. One question that is answered here is which pathways are taken by planning theories to deal with the issue of Justice. Justice and injustice are generic concepts within any kind of social relations. To define “Just City Planning”, we look at different arenas of justice. Here, we explain and compare socialist views (Harvey), communicative planning (Innes), commons planning (Marcuse), discursive planning (Fischer), to “Just City”. The core of each theory is explained and compared. The borderlines for each theory are identified and overlaps are discussed. The concept of “social” as pertains to “social justice” is viewed here as a generic concept which deals with relations between two or more persons. Therefore, the nature of “Just Planning” is discussed here in relation to concepts such as “political justice”, “judicial justice”, “economic justice”, “cultural justice”, and “spatial-physical justice”. The criteria used to make the differentiation between these concepts are “scale” and “outcome”. The “means” and “ends” for each pave the way for using the said criteria. For example, the means for political justice are orientation and macro-level strategies for decision making in order to achieve ends such as an increase in citizen satisfaction and their support in elections. The “outcomes” are presented in a number of graphs which show the tangible and nontangible results in micro- and macro-scales. On the x-axis, the “result” from tangible to non-tangible is shown. On the y-axis, the scale from micro to macro is presented. For each of the concepts, it is asked where the Just City Planning stands within the said graphs. Considering the spatial and economic dimensions of urban planning, it is argued that Just City Planning overlaps with cultural justice, economic justice, and spatial justice. It is argued here that the “Just Planning” phenomenon has more parallels to spatial justice and less with economic and cultural justice. Planners are involved with preparing urban development plans and presenting strategies and policies for urban management and not necessarily constructing buildings. It is, however, influenced by political and judicial justice to some extent. The relationship between Just City Planning and political and judicial justice is best explained through the workings of spatial justice, and to some extent, economic and cultural justice.

Urban Management

Exploring the Relationship between Length of Residence and Place-Identity Formation in New Urban Development (Case Study: District 22 of Tehran)

P A; M A; E Z

Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, Pages 59-72

Abstract

This research aims to explore the relationship between the length of residence and the place-identity formation in new urban development in the case of the District 22 of Tehran. Based on this, the main contribution and orientation of this article is toward the length of residence among the other important ... Read More This research aims to explore the relationship between the length of residence and the place-identity formation in new urban development in the case of the District 22 of Tehran. Based on this, the main contribution and orientation of this article is toward the length of residence among the other important criteria or factors in the process of place-identity formation in new urban development. In the literature review, based on the theories, views, and researches identified and cited for the above purpose, the significant and positive correlation between the length of residence and the discussed process is emphasized. This indicates a gradual, step-by-step and continuous formation and development of the place-identity through stability, sequence and continuity of mutual connection and interaction between the resident and residency over time. In addition, at the empirical level, in reference to case studies including Dehkadeh-Olympic, Cheshmeh, Rah-Ahan, and Sadra towns, respectively with 18, 16, 11, and 9 years as the average length of residence, this relevance is confirmed by analyzing the data using the Spearman correlation coefficient. To this end, the status of place-identity was assessed by synthesis of the eight criteria in total and for each town separately. The relationship between the length of residence and the place-identity formation has a correlation coefficient of 0.84 for 638 samples, in total. Hence, identification as the identity and sense of place will be promoted and enhanced by increasing the length of residence, especially in new urban development. This finding shows that the length of residence is an essential factor in the process of place-identity formation in new urban development. The correlation coefficients in Dehkadeh-Olympic, Cheshmeh, Rah-Ahan, and Sadra towns are respectively 0.75 for 154 samples, 0.85 for 157 samples, 0.87 for 166 samples, and 0.77 for 161 samples that were considered. Thus, the correlation between the length of residence and the place-identity formation is stronger in Cheshmeh and Rah-Ahan compared to the other towns. Based on the analysis conducted, estimation of this relationship is possible by all three types of regression, linear with a coefficient of determination of 0.64, logarithmic with a coefficient of determination of 0.60, and power with a coefficient of determination of 0.62. However, the fitness of the linear regression model is better than the other two. The coefficients of determination in linear regression are 0.56, 0.64, 0.66 and 0.57 for Dehkadeh-Olympic, Cheshmeh, Rah-Ahan, and Sadra towns, respectively. Consequently, analysis of this type of relationship illustrates that there is a positive strong significant correlation, well explained by the linear regression model, between the length of residence and the place-identity formation in new urban development. Therefore, any insight and vision on the mechanism of identification as the formation of the sense and identity of place in new urban development must be founded and operationalized by simultaneous attention to this fundamental fact. Accordingly, focus can be placed on the evaluation of this process, planning, and action for accelerating and enhancing it based on all the key criteria and factors with their specific roles and effectiveness.

Urban Management

A comparative study of Iran’s Planning Structure and Management of Urban Collections with Metropolitan regions such as Sydney and Toronto

M H; N S

Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, Pages 73-86

Abstract

Two decades after the Urban Collection Bill being passed in Iran, there are still some profound doubts both in theory and in administrative-organizational dimension. Many studies have been conducted in this field and even a great deal of experience in urban planning has as yet to make authorities achieve ... Read More Two decades after the Urban Collection Bill being passed in Iran, there are still some profound doubts both in theory and in administrative-organizational dimension. Many studies have been conducted in this field and even a great deal of experience in urban planning has as yet to make authorities achieve an optimum and accepted model for managing and planning urban collections. The major reason is lack of attention to spatial and organizational realities and the structure of decision-making in Iran, lack of close scrutiny of administrative mechanisms and ignoring the necessity of planning approaches adapted to the administrative and planning structure of the country. The research in this adaptive investigation aims to make recommendations for some approaches to improve the management and planning of urban collections. This was carried out in three stages by referring to documents, books and articles related to this subject and studying the planning and management experiences in the two cities of Sydney and Toronto. As such, the facts and differences in Iran’s structure of decision-making and administration were considered. Selecting suitable and adaptable case studies is the key to success in comparative research. Thus, samples were selected based on the two criteria of (1) the macro-structure of planning in countries being studied (level of regionalism) and (2) the success of the selected metropolitan regions in planning and managing the growth. The research results lead to two types of general (pertaining to the macro level of planning) and regional (pertaining to urban collections) problems. Two groups of approaches are then suggested: (1) structural-management: to improve the administrative structure and the system of macro-decision-making; and (2) planning-management: to qualitatively improve the content of plans and programs of urban collections. The major approaches are to create an organization regionally responsible for urban collections to appropriate the duty of decision-making to regional bodies rather than regional branches of ministries, and to create a think tank that includes representatives of the institute managing regions to make major decisions. In the area of administration and programming problems, the suggested approaches include planning for land use, transportation and housing, emphasizing the principle of competitiveness and simultaneous synergy in the region (stress being on a strong relation between peripheral cities), and taking a cyclic approach rather than hierarchical planning for outlines.

Urban Economy

Assessing the Convergence Effects of Religious and Economic forces on the Contemporary Changes in Form and Shape of Samen Region, Mashhad

E S; M P; M R

Volume 3, Issue 12 , November 2014, Pages 87-101

Abstract

The Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (the eighth Shia Imam), located in the historical and foremost central part of Mashhad, has been the main factor in Mashhad’s developments, physical spread, economic and population growth. The large public investments and the greater tendency for investors in the peripheral ... Read More The Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (the eighth Shia Imam), located in the historical and foremost central part of Mashhad, has been the main factor in Mashhad’s developments, physical spread, economic and population growth. The large public investments and the greater tendency for investors in the peripheral region surrounding Imam Reza’s holy shrine, called Samen region, lead the shrine complex to be one of the most superb and glorious tomb complexes in the world. In fact, the specific characteristics of the region cause it to attract many tourists and pilgrims and as a result attract many investors, generating high income. The consequences of large private and public developments and many investment opportunities can be seen in the shape and form of the region and even the whole of the city. To study the form and shape of a city or a city region, various factors including social, physical, environmental, economic factors should be considered. Because of the religious and spiritual nature of Samen region, the religious forces have had important roles in its directions of development. In addition, having high value investment opportunities for public and private investors, economic forces have also greatly interfered in the urban development of the area. Thus, amongst the factors describing urban shape and form, the two factors of religion (spirituality) and economy (materialism) have had the largest impact on the Samen region of Mashhad. This paper aims to find the role of spiritual and materialistic values in the shape and form of Samen region since 1920 (the first Pahlavi era). In fact, it is supposed that the convergence of spiritual and materialistic forces in Samen region have considerably influenced Samen’s physical structure. These forces which appear to be naturally in conflict have made the final shape of Samen region a contrast to the identity and needs of local and former residents. Therefore, it tries to find the religious and economic values in Samen region and assess how the values interact with each other. First, the effect of spiritual and sacred values as well as economic and materialistic values on the form and shapes of cities, in particular holy cities, were investigated. Second, urban changes (changes in city shape and form) in Samen region were analysed according to spiritual and materialistic factors. The research methodology used was qualitative descriptive analysis in order to obtain answers to the research questions. In addition, to prove the claims, it used existing documents concerning Astan Ghods and various trustees of Imam Reza holy shrine in the current century. Moreover, the new urban development plan, related publications, historical maps and pictures were used to describe the changes in urban form and shape. The results show that these two factors as conflicting forces have had enormous influence on the urban physical and land use changes in Samen region. Thus, the final urban shape and form of Samen region is the result of these two continual opposing forces. Finally, the competition square used for shows, exponential growth of magnificent courtyards and glorious buildings of the holy shrine complex, splendid commercial and high-rise residential buildings surrounding the complex have led to the retreat and exclusion of former tradespeople, residents and entrepreneurs of the region, in particular low-income and medium-income groups of citizens.

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Volume & Issue: Volume 3, Issue 12, November 2014, Pages 1-101

Analysis of Justice Distribution of Urban Services and the their Spatial Distribution Pattern in Hamadan Ciy

Abstract

Planners’ Position in the Iranian Urban Planning Process

Abstract

Assessing of the relationship between the objective and subjective indicators of quality of life in the perspective of quality and physical safety in historical texture of URMIA

Abstract

Just City planning and its position within social justice

Abstract

Exploring the Relationship between Length of Residence and Place-Identity Formation in New Urban Development (Case Study: District 22 of Tehran)

Abstract

A comparative study of Iran’s Planning Structure and Management of Urban Collections with Metropolitan regions such as Sydney and Toronto

Abstract

Assessing the Convergence Effects of Religious and Economic forces on the Contemporary Changes in Form and Shape of Samen Region, Mashhad

Abstract